Vertical tabsMonastery name, type, categorySite Name: Nuseib el-'AweishirehIdentification: A seven line inscription found in the church has been tentatively interpreted as identifying the monastery as that of Tobias, possibly the founder (Di Segni 1990). Monastery name: TOBIAS (?)Monastery type: CenobiumMonastery category: Isolated in the countrysideFormer fortress LocationCoordinates, ITM system: 24,050.0064,010.00 Coordinates, ICS system: 19,050.0014,010.00 Geographical region: Southern Jordan ValleyProvincial affiliation: Palaestina IBishopric: Regio JerichoTopographical location: On a high hill overlooking Jericho.Soils: Rocky limestoneDistance from nearest bishop-seat: 3.5 km (Jericho)Distance from nearest settlement: 3.5 km. (Jericho)Distance from Roman roads: ca. 1 km north of the road connecting Jericho with Jerusalem. Source of knowledgeHideEpigraphy Text number Summary 1 Building mosaic inscription of the church of Tobias' coenobium(?), beginning with a doxology. Archaeological remainsSurveyed siteSurveyors: NameDate Conder and Kitchener1871-1877 Hirschfeld1983 Excavated siteExcavators: NameDate Netzer and Birger1976, 1980 Bibliograpy: Palmer, E. H., 1881349 Conder, C. R. and Kitchener, H. H., 1883220 Woolley, C. L. and Lawrence, T. E., 1914-1915 Hirschfeld, Y., 198358-59 Netzer, E. and Birger, R., 1990191-200 Netzer, E., 1983118-19 Hirschfeld, Y., 199059 Di Segni, L., 1990201-204 Tsafrir, Y., Di Segni, L. and Green, J., 1994197 Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012277 Abbreviation for Journals and SeriesState of certainty: Archaeologicaly definitive General descriptionState of preservation/which parts were uncovered: Parts of the structure did not survive due to erosion of the hill on which it stands. Illustrative material: Illustrative_material Photos Figures General descriptionEnclosing walls: The complex stands at the top of the hill with steep sloping sides. The Byznatine building (40-45 x 25-30 m.) is aligned approximately west-east (an angle of 10 degrees from axis). It is rectangular in shape and apparently surrounded by walls. Gate/s: The main entrance was not located but according to the excavator, the topographical conditions indicate that it was on the northwest, probably through its northern side. Courtyards: The building seems to have had two main courtyards. One courtyard, located on the southwestern corner, is rectangular and paved in carefully laid rows of stone flags. Its measurements are not known, the excavator hypothesized its length to be about 16.5 m. The second courtyard, at the center of the complex, is L-shaped with a maximum length of 14.5 m and a maximum width of 13.5m. The paving in the L-shaped courtyard is irregularly laid stone flags. The courtyards either interconnected or were separated by a wall. Churche/s: Remains of a church were uncovered in the northern section of the building. The church was entered from the west through a hall-narthex. The narthex (7.3-8.0 m long and ca. 2.8 m wide) was entered from the west. A built bench was found outside the narthex, south of the entrance. Both the hall and narthex were oriented to the exact east. Their orientation differs from the rest of the building. The church has an estimated width of 5.5-7.0 m, and an estimated length of 9.5 m. It is not known if there was an apse as the eastern part of the church has disappeared, apparently through erosion. Dwellings: A number of rooms were built in several rows around three sides of the building- one row in the north, one in the south and two or three in the east. Some of these probably served as dwellings for the resident monks. Rooms on the eastern side: remains of two short parallel rows of rooms (between the church and the southern row of rooms) were found. The western row, adjoining the central courtyard, consisted of two rooms. One of these communicated with the church through a doorway. The room was paved in a colourful mosaic. The southern row revealed evidence of 5-6 rooms, all but one adjoining the central courtyard. Most of the rooms in the complex showed signs of mosaic paving, either patterned or plain white. Refectory: It seems that at least part of the building had a second story. Mosaics that had fallen were found near the church. According to the excavator, this may indicate that the second story housed the refectory. Kitchen: A room in the eastern corner of the south wing was paved with flat stones. A smaller room adjacent to it contained a combined mosaic and ceramic tile floor. The excavator suggested that this may indicate a kitchen or a bathing installation. Water installations: A cistern was found in the central (L-shaped) courtyard, it was not excavated. A short part of a channel that fed it was also found. Outside the complex, to the west, a channel was identified, that apparently fed the cisterns in the building (only one was actually found, its capacity unknown). The cistern was probably built during an earlier phase and reused by the monastery. Small findsSmall finds: CategoryDescription PotteryJars, cooking pots and lid, kraters, bowls, jug, juglet Oil lampsA lamp of the “slipper lamp” type Detailed descriptionDimensions: Total area (sqm)Size class 1,170Medium StructureMaterials applied (walls): Limestone ComponentsEnclosing wallCourtyard/sMonastery church: Church typeDiakonikonLink to church sectionChurch location single naveDiakonikonGround floor RefectoryNumber of stories: 1KitchenWater installations: CisternsChannels0 Architectural evolutionPhase 1 Abandonment General outline: The monastery was established in the remains of a fortress of the Second Temple period. No sub phases were discerned in the monastic phase of the site. Dating material: The inscription found on the floor of the church was dated to the early sixth century CE. The pottery found in the excavations was dated to the late fifth century to early sixth century CE. Phase dateCentury: 5th-6th c. Iconoclastic evidenceIconoclastic evidence: No General outline: The monastey was probably abandoned sometime after the Arab conquest.Phase dateCentury: 7th c.Within century: First half Post Arab conquest history: Abandoned
